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graph(o)-

Writing; the production of images.

Greek graphein, to write, graphē, writing.

Some examples refer specifically to writing: graphology is the study of handwriting, for example to infer a person's character; in linguistics, a grapheme is the smallest meaningful contrastive unit in a writing system; graphemics is the branch of knowledge that deals with systems of written symbols in relation to spoken language; graphite is a form of carbon so called because it is used to write or draw with as the main constituent of pencil ‘leads’.

In other terms, the sense has been extended to refer to the production of images: graph, a diagram showing the relationship between variable quantities; graphics, the products of the graphic arts, especially commercial design or illustration; graphicacy, on the model of literacy or numeracy, is the ability to understand maps, graphs, and the like, or to present information by means of diagrams. The adjective graphical refers to graphs or visual images; the adjective graphic refers to visual art, but also has a figurative sense of giving a vivid picture with explicit detail.

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